Spain and Chile boost waste‑derived biofuel research

Researchers at Spain’s Universitat Rovira i Virgili have optimized an oil‑extraction process from spent coffee grounds, achieving about 90 % oil recovery with impurity levels reduced to 0.3 % using n‑hexane at 45 °C for 60 minutes. The method preserves the remaining biomass for further valorisation, positioning coffee residues as a viable feedstock for biodiesel and other bio‑based products and supporting circular‑economy strategies for heavy‑duty transport.

In Chile, a study by the Energy Sustainability Agency and the Clean Flight programme highlighted used cooking oil (UCO) as a strategic raw material for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Chile generates roughly 128 000 tonnes of UCO each year, but only 9‑12 % is currently recycled. The report estimates that, if 75 % of UCO were recovered by 2035, the country could produce around 99 million litres of renewable fuel annually – enough to power about 2.5 million airline passengers – contributing to transport decarbonisation.

Both projects demonstrate the potential of organic waste streams to supply bio‑fuels for sectors that are difficult to electrify.